magnus
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Line Play
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magnus
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you lazy bitches
Line play should be the most critical matchup for the Panthers. Not likely to outscheme the Patriots, the physical force of the Carolina lines will have to narrow the gap. Talent and athleticism go to the Panthers, but the Pats have an intensity inside that can be intimidating, as well as a technically sound approach that will prove hard to match.
Patriots on offense
The Patriots' OL has been anchored all season by Damien Woody, the former Boston College standout and leader in the trenches. The MCL injury that kept him from the AFC Championship will keep him from the Super Bowl as well; the former center had shifted to guard to plug holes due to injury, and now finds himself out as well. Russ Hochstein, a former Nebraska standout noted for his pancake blocks, has strong leg drive and good leverage, but doesn't have the exceptional strength advantage that he enjoyed in college.
Hochstein will match up against Kris Jenkins, who should be physically overpowering in the matchup. Should Jenkins be able to get to the outside, Hochstein is a matchup problem; a waist bender, Jenkins could use rip moves to separate and cause disruption in the pocket. Hochstein tends to overextend, and getting him into space is an advantage for Carolina. Inside, Hochstein is adept at grabbing just enough jersey to be effective, but don't expect any calls unless Jenkins can get a good deal of penetration and Hochstein makes a mistake in the exchange.
However, at times this year Jenkins' fast penetration has been used against him, and getting both Jenkins and Mike Rucker upfield could leave too large a hole for Will Witherspoon to cover. Nonetheless, if Jenkins plays head up, taking Hochstein may be a generous positive for the Panthers, and it should be best served as a head up alignment on the guard for Jenkins, not the angled nose look that Jenkins has been playing. Playing such an "under" alignment would likely give the Patroits a guard to get out on Witherspoon, a gaping hole, and would force the Panthers into further adjustments to exploit.
Center Dan Koppen, having filled in for Woody most of the season, is yet another experienced college athlete being forced into early action. A rookie drafted in the 5th round, Koppen is somewhat athletically limited and best in small space. Look for him to help the guards mostly, and could be a liability if matched up on Carolina's DTs by himself. That shouldn't often happen in the Patriots' scheme, however, and the Panthers may fake a number of middle linebacker blitzes to try to draw Koppen from his help responsibilities for the first second of protection. Don't expect Koppen to be found pulling or involved downfield, and the Panthers' linebackers should find him a lot easier to shed than Woody would have been.
Left tackle Matt Light is solid, disciplined, and technically sound. Against Mike Rucker, Light will be able to get an advantage over the edge, and if Rucker isn't aware, running lanes could develop inside him if gaining the edge becomes a focus. Rucker could find inside moves to be beneficial, though Light does have the ability to anchor. If Rucker can get him going outside, however, the change of direction could be a situation to exploit.
While Rucker is certainly more polished than Dwight Freeney, and relies less on the speed rush, Light shut down Freeney in the championship game. "He [Freeney] is one of their key guys," said Light on his website. "You’ve got to act his speed and just step back and step up."
Right guard Joe Andruzzi is more of the mauler of the bunch, a strong inline blocker who has been riddled with knee injuries early in his career, makes for a good matchup against Brentson Buckner, if head up; he can also influence Buckner outside. It'll take Buckner's quick reaction time and leverage off the snap to hold his ground, and even then it may be a stalemate. However, reserve DT and former Jet Shane Burton can provide a bit more of a power look for the defensive line and may be able to handle Andruzzi in the running game. Nonetheless, even if Buckner is stalemated, the one-gap look of the Panthers suggests that as long as Buckner isn't driven off the ball, flow should contain the run.
Look for a fair amount of stunting, something that the Panthers hadn't used much this season and wasn't effective against the Eagles. Nonetheless, slants and stunts may be necessary since the linebackers won't likely be available for much blitzing.
Right tackle Tom Ashworth, having a moment of injury in the AFC Championship, has performed well in his first full year starting. A gutty, smart, and athletically limited player, he gets a lot of help on the edge, so once again the end will need to use more inside moves, and Julius Peppers' speed might be better used on a stunt if the double teams keep coming. Peppers can beat Ashworth handily one on one. As well, taking Ashworth far outside may benefit any delayed blitzes.
Against the run, Peppers should be able to hold his own and follow flow; if Julius can get off his blocks and into pursuit, this should be a key. With the Patriots' short passing attack, expect some zone blitzing that puts Peppers in space, where he can make plays.
The Panthers should have an advantage with the screens if they don't get too focused on the pass rush. Any sweeping should be able to be strung wide, and any other athletic advantage should be toward the Panthers negating what should be a stalemate between Light and Rucker.
________________________________
Panthers on offense
A key matchup will show from RT Jordan Gross on DE Willie McGinest. The veteran McGinest has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, and Gross' recent propensity to false start may be used against him (Gross' three in the past two games haven't been terribly problematic, but lead the team). Nonetheless, Gross is very technically sound and should be able to engulf McGinest. Gross' technique in dropping deeper than most tackles has been considered odd by scouts but after a two step advantage, he can pop an end and anchor, leaving a throwing lane open and rarely letting any pressure in from that side. As long as Gross can perform as projected, McGinest should be a non-factor, though his pursuit in the running game needs to be accounted for. McGinest should also have a bit of an edge on TE Kris Mangum in slipping the blocks, though Mangum could drive if locked on and fellow end Jermaine Wiggins has fared well seeking out defenders in space.
Gross will match up on DE Bobby Hamilton in the running game, which should again be somewhat of an advantage to the Panthers; however, don't expect a ton of push, just a good walling-off.
Same generally will happen with Todd Steussie taking on Richard Seymour in the run game, and Jeno James has been excellent in the passing game game against similar two-gap tackles such as Booger McFarland.
The Panthers should be passing a good portion out of the base defense, so don't expect the use of Jarvis Green to have the impact it had in the AFC Championship game; with Steve Scuillo out, Green had a field day. Kevin Donnalley is a better pass blocker than anything the Colts could produce at guard. As well, Green against the draw should make for an easy hole; Green gets upfield quickly and doesn't have many moves to counter having a solid shoulder on him.
Jeff Mitchell, a strong run blocker, should have his hands full with nosetackle Ted Washington, and should get his share of help on combo blocks from the guards. If Mitchell can use the combo blocks to get position to wall Washington from playside penetration, that should help keep Washington from sliding down the line to create piles in front of the backs.
The Patriots' 3-4 hybrid looks will be a decent matchup for the Panthers, but don't expect to see the same looks every snap. The Patriots disguise their looks at the snap and that could pose some confusion in outside runs, and will necessitate that Panther backs do a lot of quick thinking. Stephen Davis' vision and in-hole burst should be a key, but Deshaun Foster will need to make his cuts sooner and be more decisive to ensure positive yardage.
Expect the Panthers to counter with more full-house backfields, using the TE and FB or two tight ends, to pick up unaccounted players rather than forcing the line to adjust on the move.
Should the Patriots run a lot of the odd-front 3-4, which is likely except for injury situations at linebacker, the Panthers' pulling run game is a good matchup. The guards, expected to pull on such plays, are uncovered. The tackles and center are able to influence block, rather than reach block. Tennessee put out the best gameplan to stop the run against the power sweeps, but blitzing the linebackers on the run in the 3-4 would be a deadly risk.
However, traps become much harder, and off-tackle plays tend to take on much more significance. Trapping the 3-4 end suggests influencing the outside linebacker (who has contain) and the inside linebacker, who's in the hole, along with doubleteaming the nosetackle. It takes absolute precision along with an overload of blockers, which isn't going to be the smart way to run on New England.
Line play should be the most critical matchup for the Panthers. Not likely to outscheme the Patriots, the physical force of the Carolina lines will have to narrow the gap. Talent and athleticism go to the Panthers, but the Pats have an intensity inside that can be intimidating, as well as a technically sound approach that will prove hard to match.
Patriots on offense
The Patriots' OL has been anchored all season by Damien Woody, the former Boston College standout and leader in the trenches. The MCL injury that kept him from the AFC Championship will keep him from the Super Bowl as well; the former center had shifted to guard to plug holes due to injury, and now finds himself out as well. Russ Hochstein, a former Nebraska standout noted for his pancake blocks, has strong leg drive and good leverage, but doesn't have the exceptional strength advantage that he enjoyed in college.
Hochstein will match up against Kris Jenkins, who should be physically overpowering in the matchup. Should Jenkins be able to get to the outside, Hochstein is a matchup problem; a waist bender, Jenkins could use rip moves to separate and cause disruption in the pocket. Hochstein tends to overextend, and getting him into space is an advantage for Carolina. Inside, Hochstein is adept at grabbing just enough jersey to be effective, but don't expect any calls unless Jenkins can get a good deal of penetration and Hochstein makes a mistake in the exchange.
However, at times this year Jenkins' fast penetration has been used against him, and getting both Jenkins and Mike Rucker upfield could leave too large a hole for Will Witherspoon to cover. Nonetheless, if Jenkins plays head up, taking Hochstein may be a generous positive for the Panthers, and it should be best served as a head up alignment on the guard for Jenkins, not the angled nose look that Jenkins has been playing. Playing such an "under" alignment would likely give the Patroits a guard to get out on Witherspoon, a gaping hole, and would force the Panthers into further adjustments to exploit.
Center Dan Koppen, having filled in for Woody most of the season, is yet another experienced college athlete being forced into early action. A rookie drafted in the 5th round, Koppen is somewhat athletically limited and best in small space. Look for him to help the guards mostly, and could be a liability if matched up on Carolina's DTs by himself. That shouldn't often happen in the Patriots' scheme, however, and the Panthers may fake a number of middle linebacker blitzes to try to draw Koppen from his help responsibilities for the first second of protection. Don't expect Koppen to be found pulling or involved downfield, and the Panthers' linebackers should find him a lot easier to shed than Woody would have been.
Left tackle Matt Light is solid, disciplined, and technically sound. Against Mike Rucker, Light will be able to get an advantage over the edge, and if Rucker isn't aware, running lanes could develop inside him if gaining the edge becomes a focus. Rucker could find inside moves to be beneficial, though Light does have the ability to anchor. If Rucker can get him going outside, however, the change of direction could be a situation to exploit.
While Rucker is certainly more polished than Dwight Freeney, and relies less on the speed rush, Light shut down Freeney in the championship game. "He [Freeney] is one of their key guys," said Light on his website. "You’ve got to act his speed and just step back and step up."
Right guard Joe Andruzzi is more of the mauler of the bunch, a strong inline blocker who has been riddled with knee injuries early in his career, makes for a good matchup against Brentson Buckner, if head up; he can also influence Buckner outside. It'll take Buckner's quick reaction time and leverage off the snap to hold his ground, and even then it may be a stalemate. However, reserve DT and former Jet Shane Burton can provide a bit more of a power look for the defensive line and may be able to handle Andruzzi in the running game. Nonetheless, even if Buckner is stalemated, the one-gap look of the Panthers suggests that as long as Buckner isn't driven off the ball, flow should contain the run.
Look for a fair amount of stunting, something that the Panthers hadn't used much this season and wasn't effective against the Eagles. Nonetheless, slants and stunts may be necessary since the linebackers won't likely be available for much blitzing.
Right tackle Tom Ashworth, having a moment of injury in the AFC Championship, has performed well in his first full year starting. A gutty, smart, and athletically limited player, he gets a lot of help on the edge, so once again the end will need to use more inside moves, and Julius Peppers' speed might be better used on a stunt if the double teams keep coming. Peppers can beat Ashworth handily one on one. As well, taking Ashworth far outside may benefit any delayed blitzes.
Against the run, Peppers should be able to hold his own and follow flow; if Julius can get off his blocks and into pursuit, this should be a key. With the Patriots' short passing attack, expect some zone blitzing that puts Peppers in space, where he can make plays.
The Panthers should have an advantage with the screens if they don't get too focused on the pass rush. Any sweeping should be able to be strung wide, and any other athletic advantage should be toward the Panthers negating what should be a stalemate between Light and Rucker.
________________________________
Panthers on offense
A key matchup will show from RT Jordan Gross on DE Willie McGinest. The veteran McGinest has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, and Gross' recent propensity to false start may be used against him (Gross' three in the past two games haven't been terribly problematic, but lead the team). Nonetheless, Gross is very technically sound and should be able to engulf McGinest. Gross' technique in dropping deeper than most tackles has been considered odd by scouts but after a two step advantage, he can pop an end and anchor, leaving a throwing lane open and rarely letting any pressure in from that side. As long as Gross can perform as projected, McGinest should be a non-factor, though his pursuit in the running game needs to be accounted for. McGinest should also have a bit of an edge on TE Kris Mangum in slipping the blocks, though Mangum could drive if locked on and fellow end Jermaine Wiggins has fared well seeking out defenders in space.
Gross will match up on DE Bobby Hamilton in the running game, which should again be somewhat of an advantage to the Panthers; however, don't expect a ton of push, just a good walling-off.
Same generally will happen with Todd Steussie taking on Richard Seymour in the run game, and Jeno James has been excellent in the passing game game against similar two-gap tackles such as Booger McFarland.
The Panthers should be passing a good portion out of the base defense, so don't expect the use of Jarvis Green to have the impact it had in the AFC Championship game; with Steve Scuillo out, Green had a field day. Kevin Donnalley is a better pass blocker than anything the Colts could produce at guard. As well, Green against the draw should make for an easy hole; Green gets upfield quickly and doesn't have many moves to counter having a solid shoulder on him.
Jeff Mitchell, a strong run blocker, should have his hands full with nosetackle Ted Washington, and should get his share of help on combo blocks from the guards. If Mitchell can use the combo blocks to get position to wall Washington from playside penetration, that should help keep Washington from sliding down the line to create piles in front of the backs.
The Patriots' 3-4 hybrid looks will be a decent matchup for the Panthers, but don't expect to see the same looks every snap. The Patriots disguise their looks at the snap and that could pose some confusion in outside runs, and will necessitate that Panther backs do a lot of quick thinking. Stephen Davis' vision and in-hole burst should be a key, but Deshaun Foster will need to make his cuts sooner and be more decisive to ensure positive yardage.
Expect the Panthers to counter with more full-house backfields, using the TE and FB or two tight ends, to pick up unaccounted players rather than forcing the line to adjust on the move.
Should the Patriots run a lot of the odd-front 3-4, which is likely except for injury situations at linebacker, the Panthers' pulling run game is a good matchup. The guards, expected to pull on such plays, are uncovered. The tackles and center are able to influence block, rather than reach block. Tennessee put out the best gameplan to stop the run against the power sweeps, but blitzing the linebackers on the run in the 3-4 would be a deadly risk.
However, traps become much harder, and off-tackle plays tend to take on much more significance. Trapping the 3-4 end suggests influencing the outside linebacker (who has contain) and the inside linebacker, who's in the hole, along with doubleteaming the nosetackle. It takes absolute precision along with an overload of blockers, which isn't going to be the smart way to run on New England.
Foxman
Don't read th
magnus said:
I took the time to read it earlier and as always excellent work, a good read.
magnus
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Like I said, "quick overview." There's a whole lot more information to add to that, actually, specific scouting details, background, and so on, plus the fact that I didn't go that much into the Patriots' run scheme, either team's blitz packages that much, protections (my weak point right now), matchups amongst the rest of the fronts (FBs, TEs for instance, against linebackers, since it's not a simple "this guy blocks this guy"), and so on.
stratocatter
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Thanks, good stuff. What will it look like when they want to do the 5 wr thing?
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Savio
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cliff notes please :thumbup:
Wp28
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Look like?
It will look like 5 wr's get punked at the LOS.
stratocatter said:
It will look like 5 wr's get punked at the LOS.
magnus
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stratocatter said:
Traditional five wide substitutions are to have the corners outside, generally a linebacker on the nearest split defender toward formation, and depending on the defense and personnel, there'll be someone covering everyone. But that variable of defense and personnel would dictate who.
If we were in nickel, it's more likely we'd see one safety come up and the other would play a middle half zone technique.
stratocatter
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magnus said:
Thanks magnus. I guess my focus was more on the line play aspect, but I wasn't real specific: can we get our four down guys blocked by their five OL? And what that means when Brady is doing that 3 step throw in 3 seconds shit. It looks as if they will double Jenkins, so I was hoping to get some extrapolation ;-)
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